Slander: Betsy Hardin v. William Kellett

Territory of Arkansas, Lawrence County, Union Township: Whereas there has beenstatements made to BetsyHardin that I should havestated against her carrecter[sic]which statement has caused her to bring suitin court against me in saying that she had amelato[sic] child in Belview[sic] and had to leave hercountry the assersion[sic] I deny every saying if I did I was intoxacation[sic] or so out of mysenses that I did not know what I said for I acknowledge the report to be a lye[sic] and grownless[sic]and without any fondation[sic] whatever -I further acknowledge that I did say somethingabout a flying report of her havinga child in Belview which I believe was raisd[sic] by some lying malicious person and I believeto be a lye[sic] and did believe it to be a lye[sic]when I mentioned it but did it through arage of mallice[sic] against the family in amelicious[sic] way for no other cause but revengeBut I acknowledge I have lived a closeneighbor to her and her father for the sumof about six years and she has behaved herselfe[sic] a prudent and virtuous young woman asany other woman that is in our county asfar as I have heard or have knowledge.William Kellett[signature]On the eigth day of May 1822William Kellett personally apeared[sic] before mean acting justice of the aforesaid countyand territory and acknowledged the withinstipulated to be his free and voluntary actWilliam Janes[signature] William Kellett to J. Hardin, William Kellett acknowledgement, Filed for record May 18th 1822 - - -[upside down] Territory of Arkansas, County of Lawrence: Be it remembered that in theeighteenth day of May in theyear of Christ eighteen hundred and twenty two, thewithin and foregoing was - - - for record which wasthe same day duly recorded in Book B pg 378 and 379Hy. Sanford, Clerk

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In an effort to avoid paying a potentially hefty judgement against him for slander, William Kellett penned this laughable retraction regarding his damaging statement of Betsy Hardin. Evidently, he heard on the rumor mill that Betsy had a child out of wedlock that she left behind in Missouri. Betsy was furious over the accusation and filed a slander suit. Kellett's response first denies he said such a thing, then allows that he might have said it while drunk, and finally admits to saying it but asserts he believed it was a total lie. He concludes by praising Betsy's reputation which seems a little too late.

Transcription

Territory of Arkansas, Lawrence County, Union Township: Whereas there has beenstatements made to BetsyHardin that I should havestated against her carrecter[sic]which statement has caused her to bring suitin court against me in saying that she had amelato[sic] child in Belview[sic] and had to leave hercountry the assersion[sic] I deny every saying if I did I was intoxacation[sic] or so out of mysenses that I did not know what I said for I acknowledge the report to be a lye[sic] and grownless[sic]and without any fondation[sic] whatever -I further acknowledge that I did say somethingabout a flying report of her havinga child in Belview which I believe was raisd[sic] by some lying malicious person and I believeto be a lye[sic] and did believe it to be a lye[sic]when I mentioned it but did it through arage of mallice[sic] against the family in amelicious[sic] way for no other cause but revengeBut I acknowledge I have lived a closeneighbor to her and her father for the sumof about six years and she has behaved herselfe[sic] a prudent and virtuous young woman asany other woman that is in our county asfar as I have heard or have knowledge.William Kellett[signature]On the eigth day of May 1822William Kellett personally apeared[sic] before mean acting justice of the aforesaid countyand territory and acknowledged the withinstipulated to be his free and voluntary actWilliam Janes[signature] William Kellett to J. Hardin, William Kellett acknowledgement, Filed for record May 18th 1822 - - -[upside down] Territory of Arkansas, County of Lawrence: Be it remembered that in theeighteenth day of May in theyear of Christ eighteen hundred and twenty two, thewithin and foregoing was - - - for record which wasthe same day duly recorded in Book B pg 378 and 379Hy. Sanford, Clerk

Description

This is the statement of the defendant, William Kellett, in response to the slander suit brought against him by Betsy Hardin.

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